Harvest Tales - Sumner County

Robert Miller

Leadership Skills of People with Farming Backgrounds

Most of the strong segments of the economy in Kansas--the industrial economy--credit their early success to the work ethic of farmers and the young people who grew up on a farm and went to work, whether it was the airplane plants, the Hesston corporation, or the various other industries in Kansas. Another thing I think is important is the number of people who grew up with a farm background that provide leadership in government, in community activities or organizations. . . .

When you are out there operating a farm, and the whole operation is in your head . . . you have a real organizational ability if you're good. By being out there with nature, you are sensitive to the environment, you are sensitive with the way things work together [and] fit together. That gives you a lot of ability to take those tools and use them, whether its on the school board or the Department of Education, or an organization whether its agricultural related or not. . . . If you look at the biographies of some of the greater leaders, whether it be George Washington or Thomas Jefferson at the beginning of the country, or some of the more recent leaders both in government and outside of government, they have that farm background.